we went to check the conditions at timberline. There were 6 cm of new
snow at 1100 m at a temperature of 0 degrees. At 1500 m, it was -1.5
with a light southerly wind and very light snowfall. About 10 cm had
accumulated since the 25th of November. There was marked wind effect at
timberline. Visibility was poor higher up, but I am confident that the
light snow of last week has been heavily wind affected. We could see no
new avalanche activity and ski cutting only led to sluffing which ran
slowly.
The snowpack showed several sudden planar shears, one on surface hoar 30
cm down. There may be pockets of that surface hoar buried in sheltered
locations, but I don't think it survived last week's winds in the alpine.
The forecast precipitation did not really materialize and the heavy
early winter snowpack seems to be settling well. Skiing quality in the
trees was fair due to tree bombs.
--
Christoph Dietzfelbinger
Mountain Guide, Bear Mountaineering and Burnie Glacier Chalet
Box 4222
Smithers, B.C. V0J 2N0 Canada
tel. 250-847-3351 fax: 250-847-2854
info@bearmountaineering.ca www.bearmountaineering.ca
_______________________________________________
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